The Welkin By Lucy Kirkwood

Kath Archer and Alan Booth

Characters• 13 female + 3 male on stage (1 Male ‘JUSTICE’ off stage on mic/or possibly recorded). (Fred and Dr Willis can be played by the same

actor)

• SALLY -Murderer, 21, married to Fred lives in Metfield, went off with Thomas McKay from Scotland, had worked for the Waxes as laundry maid (was dismissed for stealing) before that had worked for Bray family as nursery maid to the children. Her and her family have a reputation in village akin to ‘poor trash’. She has had 2 previous miscarriages.

• ELIZABETH LUKE -Midwife, also takes in linens, widow, mid 30s, held in high regard and is the ‘go to’ person for the community for most ailments. In a secret relationship with Coombes

• CHARLOTTE CARY -Older matron, needs to be able to do RP accent and local dialect, says she is a widow to a Colonel of 40th Regiment and lives in Colchester, has two granddaughters, forewoman of the jury - actually she is a housekeeper for the Bray family 9 miles away.

• COOMBES - Bailiff, former thatcher who fell off a roof and has injured his arm, wife has run off to Lowestoft, has an understanding with Elizabeth Luke, has been employed by Wax family in menial capacity - he is on stage for majority of the play but apart from 3rd scene, few lines but absolutely vital off the ball acting presence. (mid 30s)

• Older matrons: Judith Brewer, Sarah Hollis (mute for first half of play), Sarah Smith, Helen Ludlow, Emma Jenkins

• Younger matrons: Kitty Givens (Scottish), Ann Lavender, Mary Middleton (pregnant), Hannah Rusted, Peg Carter (pregnant)

• Dr Willis - 1 scene in 2nd Act, (age not specified) but likely to be youngish

• FRED Poppy - (young) Married to Sally, farmer, church goer, stormy relationship with wife. - in scene 1 only

• Lady Wax (mother of murdered child)- comes on in last scene - no words (can double up with one of the other matrons)

• Katy Luke - tiny role for child in scene 3(could be played by one of the matrons)

Themes• The drudgery of female lives – housework • Women’s lack of control of and even knowledge about their

own bodies• Opposites everywhere: superstition/religion; spirituality/

careworn cynicism; male/female; healer/doctor• Complex hierarchies – some social ordering/deference games

on the cards• Outrageous gossip – 18th century social media – an existential

necessity for these women• Time (continuity and change – the staples of history)

MetfieldBungay

Tacolneston

London (68 miles from Bungay)

Oban, Scotland (487 miles from Bungay)

Cratfield

Location

Characters/Approach • All characters are well-rounded.

• Ensemble piece

• Fast and furious - overlapping dialogue - naturalism of delivery, stylisation of groupings

• Tableaux/visual - pickup up themes - hierarchy/authenticity/time

• Gossip - social media/humour/accents - Butterflies/Fleabag

• Physicality/what is going through the character’s minds

• Lights/sound/minimalist set

Rehearsals• Roadmap dependent/covid safe

• Mondays. 7.00pm and Thursdays 7.30pm

• Sunday pms nearer the time (August)

• Call you when we need you (you tell us when you can’t)

• Research/use resources/fact sheets.

• Time/big cast/logistics/commitment

• Production fee - GP

A woman’s lot is not a happy one

Auditions/Production meetings

• Monday and Thursday May 17 and 20 at Gweek Village Hall from 7.30 pm.

• Schedule - Let us know what day you can make.

• Audition pieces/flexibility/one role/any role

• Creatives - meeting on 24/5

Extracts• Ensemble: P42 - from Where is she then to end of P47

4.07

• The Jury: P24 - 29

• Sally & Fred: 11- 12 to I can’t do both. 1.30

• Elizabeth and Coombes ‘What do you want P 15- 17 till ’Housework before” 1.54

• Sally & Fred 12 - 14 - My god to end of scene. 1.13

Any Questions?